Exploring Alienation and Identity in Dazai Osamu’s ‘No Longer Human’

Introduction

Dazai Osamu’s novel “No Longer Human” stands as a poignant exploration of alienation and identity within the framework of modern Japanese literature. This report aims to analyze the ways in which Dazai articulates the protagonist’s profound sense of disconnection from society, alongside the complexities of his identity. Through a deep examination of the text, this paper will reveal how Dazai utilizes the narrative structure, character development, and thematic elements to illustrate the struggles with self-identity and societal acceptance that resonate universally, transcending cultural boundaries.

Main Body

At the heart of “No Longer Human” is the character of Ōba Yōzō, a man who embodies the struggle with alienation in an increasingly modernized world. The novel is structured as a series of notebooks that Yōz